No time to elaborate today, but the Seattle Times just published this article about DNA testing and how it has revealed an Albquerque reverend to be a descendandant of the Cohanim. The reverend then tested 78 relatives, 30 of whom had the same genetic marker of ancient Jewish priests. Full story.
A reader sent this link, the site of Nan Rubin, who broadcasted a series of radio shows about the secret Jewish history of New Mexico.
And then there’s Donald N. Panther-Yates of Georgia Southern University and Melungeons.com, who published this piece on crypto-Jews in Tennesee, Kentucky and North Carolina, including information on Jewish Native American chiefs (and there were many of them!) It’s a crazy long and at times convoluted read (plus some funky html issues), but there’s some amazing stuff there.
All this should keep all you crypto-philes busy for awhile!
*Photo of American pioneer and Jewish Melungian Davey Crockett c/o Melungeons.com.
Still waiting for mass conversions to start happening. Thank G-d we live in an era when being who you are is much more acceptable. Whatever intollerance existed in the past that forced jews to hide thier culture should no longer exist. Lets bring our long lost brothers and sisters back into the light.
I don’t believe us Spaniard’s (Spanish American’s) have to convert to our original Judaism, we are done converting. We must learn who we are and how we ended up where we are. If we came from the original Jewish families and we survived this long with our DNA still intact, I believe it is G_d’s plan and we now need to let the world know how many Jew’s there really are in this world. It is an impossible task to get rid of the Jews in this world, we are everywhere!
Am I a Jew? My mind is confused 3 days ago was the first time I have EVER heard of a Hispanic Jew. I have been on the computer for 4 days non-stop researching this Jew thing. For me it all started out being a subject I wanted to lay to rest with my Father whose last name is Lopez, yes same as mine. The subject had been coming up over the last three years. I finally got to the point that I was going to prove him wrong. There were little things in the past that my Father would mention to me like how he ate lentils soup as a child and how Lopez was “Supposedly” a Jew last name.
It wasn’t until I started doing more research that I quit laughing at the idea. I come to find out that both my parent remember as a child mirrors being covered when someone died. My father’s family is from Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. Upon research I found out that a great number of Jews resided in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado. My brother has eczema and was mentioning to a friend how bad it was. His friend told him that eczema was a Jewish thing.
Is my mind playing tricks on me? Does this mean that I am more then 50% sure I am a hidden Jew descendent. I don’t know for sure. Hopefully with more research I will find out the truth.
I am still in shock and in disbelief. Could this be true?
I discovered I am a Spanish jew, I have had a strong desire to read write and speak Hebrew, along with prayers. my desire is to make Aliyah to Israel. Shalom my Achim (brothers)
I have always felt a strong link with the Jewish people. Especially after moving to Palm Beach in south Florida (which has a flourishing Jewish presence mostly of ashkenazim decent) and made some jewish friends.
My family is from Las Vegas and Albuquerque in northern New Mexico and is of Spanish decent. Recently I found out through my Grandmother that her Grandfather was Jewish (Sephardim), but she does not remember his last name. I’ve always heard rhumors, in my family, that my last name, Alires, is Jewish and is Israel scrambled. Which makes me believe that my family wanted to preserve their Jewish heritage. Recently I’ve converted back to Judaism and I feel like I’ve returned home.
Shalom Aleichem
My dad used to tell me our last name was originally supposed to be spelled
Alires. For some odd reason, it was changed to Alire. My family is from Santa Fe New Mexico. I have done some reasearch, and I know what you mean about feeling a connection with Judaism
so I started attending a synagogue here and plan on converting also. I have a stong feeling our families were
jews.
Hi. Dont know if this is a good idea but will give it a go. My name is Sue and I was born in England in 1957. father was Donald Dresden who came from New Mexico. He returned to America when I was 6 months old and never returned. It was kinda hard in them days not having a dad, people were not tolerant and I happy a pretty hard time. Mum recently contacted dad and once again he doesnt want to know. This is fine with me : i dont understand his wish but do respect it and have never attempted to contact him myself.I have only recently found out that Dresden is a jewish name and would really like to know more about that side of my family. i havnt a clue how to go about this and at present am just logging on to sites such as this.As I cant ask dad does anyone have any suggestions?
Hi. Dont know if this is a good idea but will give it a go. My name is Sue and I was born in England in 1957. father was Donald Dresden who came from New Mexico. He returned to America when I was 6 months old and never returned. It was kinda hard in them days not having a dad, people were not tolerant and I had a pretty hard time. Mum recently contacted dad and once again he doesnt want to know. This is fine with me : i dont understand his wish but do respect it and have never attempted to contact him myself.I have only recently found out that Dresden is a jewish name and would really like to know more about that side of my family. i havnt a clue how to go about this and at present am just logging on to sites such as this.As I cant ask dad does anyone have any suggestions?
Hi Sue, what part of New Mexico is your Dad from? Was he born in New Mexico?
Hello I am also An Alires family member just as all the other Alires family, We have all come from New Mexico and Colorado, my grandpa Jose Raymon Patricio Alires born in Colorado, died in Oregon… His parents were Jose Prudencio Alires and Delfina or Delphine Alires I believe her maiden name was Herrerra.. But I have also Had a Strong Yearning and have always felt like I belong in Isreal , I’ve also heard these same rumors…. Please share more than about the Alires Family History … Thank you